Yogyakarta, Indonesia — As Indonesia eyes its ambition to become a global hub for the sharia economy, one university is turning ambition into action. UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta has taken bold steps to bridge academic insight and societal impact through its strategic collaboration with Bank Indonesia’s Yogyakarta Regional Office.

This partnership culminated in the Training of Trainers (ToT) for Sharia Economic Literacy Advocates, held on August 5–6, 2025, as part of the broader SEMESTA (Semarak Ekonomi Syariah Yogyakarta) program. Targeting 400 community-engaged students participating in the university’s “KKN Indonesia Berdampak” program, the initiative is designed to create a new generation of sharia economy ambassadors—trained, equipped, and ready to lead in real-world settings.

“Indonesia, with its Muslim-majority population, holds enormous potential in developing a robust sharia economy,” said Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan, Rector of UIN Sunan Kalijaga, during the program’s opening ceremony at Grand Rohan Hotel. “But our challenge lies in the low levels of financial literacy in this field, which hinder the achievement of our national economic growth targets.”

The rector underlined the importance of student involvement in advancing public awareness and practical application of sharia-based financial principles. “We want this ToT not just to be informative, but transformational. It should foster leadership, resilience, and the ability to innovate among our students,” he emphasized.

The momentum behind this initiative is built on the university’s foundational philosophy of knowledge integration and interconnection, where Islamic values and scientific disciplines converge to address national challenges—including economic inequality and low financial inclusion.

Representing Bank Indonesia, Sri Darmadi Sudibyo, Head of the Yogyakarta Regional Office, officially opened the program and shared sobering figures: while Indonesia’s sharia financial literacy stands at 39.11%, inclusion is lagging far behind at just 12.88%. “This gap is our collective responsibility to address,” he stated. “Through this collaboration, we hope students will serve as agents of change and extend sharia economic literacy deep into society.”

Darmadi also outlined the Indonesia Sharia Economy Masterplan 2019–2024, which rests on three core pillars: development of the halal value chain, deepening of Islamic financial markets, and strengthening of education and literacy. “Sharia economy is not a theoretical ideal. It must be rooted, lived, and practiced by society. With initiatives like this, Yogyakarta can thrive as a model for the nation,” he concluded, rallying the crowd with the chant: “Eksyar Subur, Yogyakarta Makmur!”

The training itself was led by respected academics from the Yogyakarta Sharia Economic Society (MES), including Moh. Bekti Hendrie Anto, M.Sc., and Dr. Priyonggo Suseno. Topics covered included Bank Indonesia’s role in Islamic economic development, the values and principles of sharia economics, halal finance products and services, Islamic social finance, and personal financial management based on sharia ethics.

The event also highlighted the role of UIN Sunan Kalijaga’s Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM), led by Dr. Abdul Qoyum, as the coordinating body for this nationwide student movement.

As UIN Sunan Kalijaga continues to expand its academic influence, it is also nurturing its civic mission—empowering students not just to study society but to serve it. With programs like this, the university is positioning itself not only as a center of knowledge, but as a catalyst for an inclusive and ethical economic future for Indonesia.(humassk)